PollinateTO Grants

PollinateTO Projects Map

View the PollinateTO Approved Projects Map to see where all our projects are located.

Videos by PollinateTO Groups

• Watch how Green Thumbs Growing Kids created pollinator gardens at schools in Toronto
• See how Flemingdon Park Ministry increased pollinators at their Common Table Farm
• 757 Condo Garden – watch the transformation
• Shirley Street Public School Gardeners
• St Boniface Pollinator Garden – this school transformed their space into a beautiful children’s garden

Grant Recipients

PollinateTO funded projects are listed below by ward, neighbourhood and Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA) or Emerging Neighbourhood (EN).

Key Dates

• Application review – November & December 2023
• Applicants notified – January 2024
• Orientation Session – January 2024
• How to PollinateTO training – February to May 2024
• Gardens planted – Spring/Summer/Fall 2024
• Completion and evaluation – end of 2025
• Grant Applications open – September 2024

Please note: Timelines are subject to change

Key Steps

Step 1: Form your group & partner with others

Create your own group or join one that is already established in your community. Partner with others who can support your idea.

To be eligible, groups must include at least three Toronto residents residing in three separate households.

Decide on a name for your Group. Select a Group Lead to be the main contact.

Step 2: Pick your garden location & get support

Look for potential garden locations in your neighbourhood. Choose garden sites that are visible to the public, have access to water and are easy for your group to get to (walking distance is ideal). Your project may include multiple locations. Priority will be given to projects located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).

Complete the Property Owner Support Letter template (Word doc) for each location.

If the garden location is on…

• Private property – Get a support letter from the property owner.
• School grounds – Get a support letter from the principal.
• City boulevard – Get a support letter from adjacent property owner.
• Public property (e.g., a Toronto Public Library) – Get a support letter from City staff on site
• City park locations – please select a park from the PollinateTO Pre-approved City Parks List. These sites have been pre-approved so you do not need to submit a support letter.

Step 3: Create plans & estimated budget

Decide on a name for your Project (this is different from your Group name).

Download the PollinateTO Application Questions Summary (please note, questions are subject to change). You can use this document to help plan, brainstorm and organize your project ideas and application submission.

Create a community engagement and education plan – think about the best ways to involve the community in your project.

Think about how your proposed garden(s) will be maintained in the long term and who will be responsible for the continued care of the garden(s). You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.

Put together an estimated budget (max. $5,000). See the Eligible Costs section for guidance. You must use the Proposed Budget Summary template (Excel doc) provided.

Step 4: Complete the online application & submit supporting documents

You must apply using the online application form before the deadline.

The following documents are required to evaluate your proposal:

1. Property Owner Support Letter. Not required for projects in pre-approved City parks. For private property, school ground projects, City boulevards and Public Property – You must use the Property Owner Support Letter template (Word doc).
2. Proposed Budget – an estimated list of the costs to deliver your project. You must use the Proposed Budget Summary template (Excel doc).
3. Photos of your proposed garden location(s)

The following documents are optional. You can use them to help you plan your project:

1. Proposed Plant List (Word) – use this to organize your plant choices
2. Garden Maintenance Plan (Word) – use this to plan how your garden will be cared for long term success

Step 5: Application review & project approval

Applications will be screened for eligibility by City of Toronto staff. Applications that are determined to be eligible will be further assessed by a Review Committee made up of representatives from various City of Toronto divisions. In the case of proposals for gardens on school grounds City staff will engage the School Board as part of the review process. Final recommendations for funding will be approved by the Executive Director, Environment & Climate, City of Toronto. Successful applicants will receive notice via email and details about next steps.

The Review Committee will make funding recommendations based on their assessment of the following elements of each application:

1. 1. support from the property owner
   2. group experience, history and track record
   3. proposal’s ability to meet the goals and objectives of the program
   4. group readiness to undertake the proposed work
   5. timeline of the project is clear and feasible
   6. budget is clear and makes sense for the project
   7. likelihood of generating measurable results and likelihood of success;
   8. long-term sustainability of the project
   9. use of strategies and tools to engage and educate the community, including new audiences who have not been targeted by previous initiatives.

Step 6: Online Orientation Session & How to PollinateTO Training

Successful applicants will attend an online information session to learn more about the next steps to start their projects. Successful applicants will also take part in the How to PollinateTO training program which provides the knowledge needed to create pollinator habitat in Toronto with a focus on the lifecycle needs of pollinators and native plants.

Step 7: Funding agreement & trustees

A funding agreement will be drafted and sent to successful applicants to be signed. Upon returning the signed agreement, the City signature will be added and the first installment of the funding award (approximately 90 percent) will be processed. 

Funded groups will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy and will be asked to review the City of Toronto Guide to Political Activities for City Funded Groups and sign a corresponding document to acknowledge the policy.

The City of Toronto has engaged official trustee organizations for PollinateTO. These organizations will provide administrative oversight of the funding disbursement to successful PollinateTO grant recipients.

PollinateTO Trustee Organizations

• Pollinator Partnership Canada (“P2C”) is a registered charity and the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems in Canada
• Toronto District School Board (TDSB) will serve as the trustee organization for all PollinateTO projects located at their schools
• Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) will serve as the trustee organization for all PollinateTO projects located at their schools

PollinateTO is open to all resident-led groups, registered charities and non-profit organizations. Resident-led groups must have at least three residents of Toronto (from separate households) as part of the group.

Eligible Applicants

• resident, tenant and neighbourhood groups
• community groups and organizations
• school groups, student clubs and parent councils
• indigenous groups
• faith groups
• business improvement areas (BIAs)
• registered charitable organizations and not-for-profit organizations
• not-for-profit organizations with offices outside of Toronto are eligible to apply if the proposed garden is located within a Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA)
• groups previously funded via PollinateTO that have provided proof of project completion (submission of Impact Report and Expense Summary)

Ineligible Applicants

• individuals (must be part of a group with at least three members living in three separate households)
• for-profit businesses
• building and property managers
• grant making organizations
• organizations allied with political parties
• groups previously funded via PollinateTO that have not completed their current project

Eligible Projects

Examples of eligible projects include:

• shared community gardens
• school ground teaching gardens
• Indigenous education gardens
• boulevard gardens
• rain gardens
• multiple (three or more) front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood that together create a “pollinator pathway”
• Gardens located in City of Toronto Park (park must be on the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List)

Ineligible Projects

Examples of projects the City will not fund include:

• backyard gardens
• single front yard residential garden (you must have three or more front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood to create a “pollinator pathway”)
• container gardens, closed bottom stock tanks or closed bottom raised beds (open bottom containers and raised beds are eligible)
• open bottom stock tanks or open bottom raised beds located on hard surfaces (e.g., concrete or asphalt)
• rooftop gardens (funding is available for green roofs via the Eco-Roof Incentive Program)
• balcony gardens
• projects that are already fully complete
• temporary projects not intended to last beyond one growing season
• gardens used for the sole purpose of urban agriculture
• beekeeping activities, education or promotion
• gardens that are not visible to the public
• Gardens in City of Toronto Parks not listed on the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List

Garden Locations

PollinateTO supports projects that create pollinator habitat in all Toronto neighbourhoods. Priority will be given to gardens located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).

Gardens can be on private and public land. Your project proposal can include multiple garden locations at one or more sites (i.e. different addresses). Your proposal can also have one or more garden locations at a single address (i.e. separate garden beds on different parts of the same property).

Each garden location must have access to a source of water.

Note: Property owner support is required for all proposed garden locations except for gardens proposed in City parks on the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List.

Private Property

Examples of private property include residential, commercial, post-secondary institutions, faith and spiritual centres, non-profit organizations, etc.

Consideration for residential gardens:

• For front yard gardens on residential streets, you must have three or more front yard gardens on the same street or the same neighbourhood to create a “pollinator pathway”. The front yards do not have to be directly beside each other.
• Gardens must be visible to the public (front yard gardens = yes, backyard gardens = no).

Application process:

• Must have written support from the property owner(s) for each of the proposed gardens
  • Use the Property Owner Support Letter template.
• Must have a maintenance plan. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave your group, others can fill in. You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.

City Boulevard

This is most often the area between the road and the sidewalk.

Considerations when creating boulevard gardens:

• Traffic island locations and sloped (more than 2 degrees) locations are not suitable.
• Plants must have a mature potential growing height lower than 70 cm to preserve sight lines for safety between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
• Select plant species that are tolerant of salt-spray.
• Please be aware that plantings could be removed at any time in the future by the City or third party (e.g. utility company) without further compensation or replacements.

Application process:

• Must have written support from the adjacent (next to or adjoining) property owner. On a residential street, this would be the property owner located directly in front of the boulevard.
  • Use the Property Owner Support Letter template.
• Must have a maintenance plan. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave your group, others can fill in. You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.

Approval Process:

• City staff will review your application and determine if the boulevard location you have proposed is suitable for a PollinateTO garden.
• Please try to provide as much detail as possible regarding your proposed location(s), a map of the area with your proposed planting sites clearly identified is helpful.
• A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.

School Grounds

Applications are welcome from all Toronto School Boards. PollinateTO has partnered with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to establish the process described below.

Application process:

• Form a group that has teacher, administration, and student representation.
  • Get support from the Principal. Use the Property Owner Support Letter template.
  • Ensure that your project has a teaching and learning component (connects to the curriculum). For TDSB projects, all workshops, demonstrations and group activities must be provided by TDSB approved environmental partners.
• Express your interest in creating a PollinateTO project at a specific school.
  • You may use the application to share your suggestions and ideas for garden location, size and type, but please be aware that final decisions will be made in consultation with the School Board. If conditionally approved, your Group will work with the School Board to determine the ideal garden location, size and type for your school.
• Must have a maintenance plan. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave your group, others can fill in. You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.

Approval process:

• PollinateTO staff will work with School Board staff to review your application and determine if the school you have proposed is suitable for a PollinateTO project.
• If your proposal is conditionally approved, your group will work directly with School Board staff to determine garden location, size and type.
• A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.

Public Property

Examples of public property include Toronto Public Libraries and City of Toronto Recreation Centres.

Application process:

• Must have written support from staff at the proposed garden(s) location.
  • Use the Property Owner Support Letter template.
• Must have a maintenance plan. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave your group, others can fill in. You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.

City Parks

You can apply to further enhance a park in your community with a pollinator garden. Please follow the process as outlined below.

Application process:

• Pollinator garden proposals in parks must be located in a pre-approved City Park. Pollinator gardens proposed in City parks not on this list will not be considered.
  • See the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List 
  • Find a location near you by using the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks Map .
• Use the PollinateTO application form to express your interest in creating a PollinateTO project in a specific pre-approved City park.
• You do not need to submit a property owner support letter, since these sites have been pre-approved. Please do not directly contact the Park Supervisor for the pre-approved parks. If conditionally approved, your group will be connected with the appropriate Parks staff.

All gardens must have a maintenance plan:

• You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.
• Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave the group, others can fill in.
• Groups must have a plan for storage of equipment and tools. Tools and materials may not be stored on-site.

Approval process:

• Priority will be given to proposals located in NIAs, those in Parks lacking pollinator habitat, and Parks with small amounts of pollinator habitat that could benefit from enhancement. Final approval is at the discretion Parks staff based on operational requirements.
• If your proposal is conditionally approved, your group will work directly with the Parks staff to determine garden location, size and type. A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.
• The Park Supervisor will identify the support they can provide (such as yard waste removal frequency, water and watering tools).

PollinateTO Garden Requirements:

• minimum of twelve perennial plants (can be a combination of flowers, trees and shrubs)
• at least 75 per cent of plants must be native perennial species
• at least one type of native goldenrod species must be used
• at least two different types of larval host plants must be used, one of which must be milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
• plants must provide continuous bloom:
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the spring
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the summer
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the fall
• no invasive plant species may be used – see the list of prohibited plants in Toronto
• must select plants based on site conditions (e.g. full sun/partial sun/shade, wet/dry, etc)
• must have access to a source of water to allow plants to be watered as required
• must have ongoing maintenance (watering, weeding, plant replacement, etc)
• provide nesting and overwintering sites for pollinators – such as dead wood, hollow and pithy stems, access to bare sandy soil, fallen leaves.

Please see our Native Flowers, Trees & Shrubs list to help you select plants for your garden.

Optional: You can use the Proposed Plant List template to help you organize your plant choices.

Click Before You Dig

Mandatory for all approved PollinateTO gardens – you must “click before you dig”. This process will identify any underground infrastructure in the area you want to build your garden. Ontario One Call provides a locate request process that is free, reliable, timely and easy to use. You can make the request online. You can do this after your project has been approved.

Budgets cannot exceed $5,000. Funding can only be used for the direct delivery of the proposed project. Please refer to this list when both creating an application and spending your grant funding. If you are unsure if an expense is eligible, please contact the PollinateTO team at pollinateTO@toronto.ca.

Download this information here – 2024 Eligible & Ineligible Expense Guide.

Watch the PollinateTO Impact Report Information Session recording to learn more about grant reporting requirements.

Upon project completion, grant recipients must submit the following;

1. Impact Report: Tell us about your project! Please include photos, communication pieces, and other items to show the impact of your project and evidence of completion. 
   1. PollinateTO Impact Report Form  – Use this online form when you are ready to submit your final report. 
   2. Impact Report Question Summary – This is a reference document which lists all the Impact Report questions. You can use this document to help prepare, organize, and draft your responses. 
2. Expense Summary: Report the actual costs of your project. Use your approved budget spreadsheet to track actual costs.  
   1. Payment Receipt / Honorarium Form  – This form is like a receipt. You would use it when you pay someone for a service or a product, and don’t get a receipt. You can also use this form for honorarium payments. 
   2. Tracking Log for Transit Fares / Gift Cards Issued  – This form tracks tokens, Presto Tickets (one ride) and gift cards given out. 
3. Video (Optional): Create a short video (1-2 minutes) of your completed project and show us what you accomplished. Please post your video online to share your story and inspire others. 
   1. Multimedia Consent Form  – use this form to obtain permission for use of photos and videos 
4. Site Visit: The PollinateTO team may request a site visit to see your garden. The PollinateTO team will contact you to schedule a site visit if needed. Site visits typically occur in late spring to fall. 

Best Practices for Pollinator Habitat Creation

Your group should consider following the PollinateTO tips for creating a pollinator garden when designing pollinator habitat. Ideal pollinator habitat will include food sources, nesting and overwintering sites and larval host plants among other considerations.

Best Practices for Pollinator Education

Download this information here – PollinateTO_Best Practices for Pollinator Education

Educational messaging should align with the guiding principles and priorities of the City’s Pollinator Protection Strategy. The following are best practices for designing a pollinator educational initiative funded by PollinateTO.

1. Incorporate the following key messages:

• Toronto is home to a wide range of pollinators, including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and birds.
• Threats to Toronto’s pollinators include forage habitat loss, loss of larval host plants, nesting habitat loss, overwintering habitat loss, pesticides, introduced and invasive species (including honey bees), diseases/pests, and climate change.
• Habitat loss is the greatest threat to pollinators. Habitat protection, creation and enhancement is key to supporting Toronto’s pollinators.

2. Raise awareness about the differences between native bees and non-native honey bees

• Toronto’s diverse bee community consists of over 360 species of native bees and one species of managed bee, the European Honey Bee, which is not native to North America.
• Native bees are primarily solitary, don’t make honey, live underground or cavities, come in a wide range of colours and sizes.
• Honey bees are not native to North America, managed by beekeepers, and they can be re-established when beekeepers experience a loss.
• Native bee species are more threatened than honey bees.
• Mention that Toronto has an Official Bee – Agapostemon virescens.

3. Discuss alternatives to beekeeping

• Many well-meaning individuals may wish to pursue hobby beekeeping in the belief that this is how they can help pollinators. Adding more honey bee colonies to the city without the habitat to support them, adds to the problem.
• Evidence suggests that native bees may be negatively impacted by urban beekeeping activities. Studies have shown that honey bees may act as an additional stressor on native bees, due to competition for food and the spread of diseases and pests. One honey bee colony can potentially out-compete thousands of native bees for food.
• Establishing a pollinator garden, or adding pollinator-friendly plants to an existing garden is a much more significant way to help pollinators, including honey bees.

4. How can we help? Pollinators need:

• Foraging resources – native flowering plants rich in pollen and nectar
• Larval host plants – butterflies can only lay their eggs on specific plants (eg. monarch and milkweed)
• Places to nest and overwinter – bare sandy soil, hollow stems, dead wood, leaf litter, etc
• A chemical free environment – insecticides (especially neonicotinoids) are the most harmful. Toronto’s Pesticide Ban has been in place since 2003.

5. Acknowledge the City of Toronto’s support of your project

• On your website, direct participants to www.livegreentoronto.ca for more resources.
• On all project-related communications and marketing materials, including garden signage, posters, brochures, signage, your newsletter, presentations, videos, etc.
• At project-related events
• Social media: Follow, share, and tag us on our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) @LiveGreenTO and use the hashtag #PollinateTO and #Grants4Gardens

Community Engagement and Education Ideas

How will your project educate and engage the community? Some ideas you might consider:

• offering demonstrations, workshops, or garden tours
• installing informative signage, plant labels or interpretive art
• inviting the community to participate in planting, maintenance, and celebratory activities
• engaging users of the green space (youth, teachers, seniors, families and others) to participate in planning, implementing and/or maintaining your project
• developing an online tool, webinar or instructional video
• creating toolkits, how-to guides, lesson plans, and/or teaching activities
• collecting seeds, sharing plants and/or helping others start their own garden
• participating in citizen science projects and community research

Where to Find Native Plants

• North American Native Plant Society Verified Commercial Growers
  • A list of commercial native plant growers verified by the North American Native Plant Society
• Credit Valley Conservation Guide to Native Plant Nurseries
  • A guide explaining the importance of native plants and a list of native plant nurseries
• Seedy Saturdays and Sundays
  • Attend a Seedy Saturday or Sunday event held throughout Toronto to buy and trade seeds
• Bee City Canada Native Plant Directory
  • A directory of native plant nurseries to help you find native plant and seeds for sale in your area
• How to Source Native Seeds and Plants
  • A guide from the David Suzuki Foundation that highlights ways to source native plants and seeds

Information for Kids and Schools

• Pollinator Partnership Learning Center Education
  • Curriculum, educational tools, activities, and fun facts about gardening and pollinators
• Your School and Pollinators
  • Hands-on learning materials for you and your school to encourage pollinator education
• The Bee Smart School Garden and Curriculum Kit
  • A tool to teach students about pollinators and how they are connected to our food and environment
• Pollinator Activities for Kids
  • Fun pollinator-themed activities to do with kids
• No Fear of Stings
  • The risk of a sting from bees is very small, especially with advance knowledge
• Bee City Canada Kids Corner
  • Learn about pollinators and have fun with activities and crafts for kids

Community Science Projects

• EcoSpark Caterpillars Count
  • Help measure the seasonal variation and abundance of caterpillars found on trees and shrubs
• Bumble Bee Watch
  • A collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees
• Xerces Society Community Science Projects
  • Contribute meaningful data to further scientific understanding of key issues facing pollinators
• City Nature Challenge
  • Cities across the world compete to see which city can gather the most wildlife observations
• Toronto Entomologist Society
  • Contribute sightings to the Ontario Butterfly Atlas and Ontario Moth Atlas
• NatureWatch
  • Information submitted is used by researchers at Canadian universities to improve scientific knowledge
• iNaturalist
  • Identify plants and animals around you while generating data for science and conservation

Celebrate Pollinators

• National Pollinator Week
  • An annual celebration in support of pollinator health and stewardship
• National Moth Week
  • Celebrate moths and their habitats by contributing scientific data about moths
• National Flight of the Monarch Day
  • Celebrate Monarch butterflies and their epic migration from Canada to Mexico

Indigenous Resources

• City of Toronto Reconciliation Action Plan
  • Guide for the City’s actions to advance truth, justice and reconciliation from 2022 to 2032
• Indigenous Climate Action Summary Report
  • Indigenous strategic discussions on City of Toronto Climate Strategies
• Whose Land Are You On?
  • Resources to learn more about the territories where you live, work, go to school, and play
• Indigenous Gardens and Organizations
  • A list of Indigenous gardens and organizations in Tkaronto (Toronto) compiled by Toronto Urban Growers
• Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle
  • Elders, knowledge keepers, community members and leaders committed to healing Indigenous lands and community in Tkaronto

Starting and Managing a Pollinator Garden

Visit the How to Help Wild Bees & Other Native Pollinators page for resources on starting and managing pollinator gardens, information on native plants and other ways you can help pollinators in Toronto.